A beautiful collection of Christmas music from the men and boys’ choir of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin.

In addition to popular favourites there are new arrangements of ‘The holly and the ivy’, the traditional Irish ‘Wexford Carol’, and a haunting new carol for Epiphany ‘Star of the East’ from young composer – and member of the choir – Ernest Dines.

Some of the carols feature brass in rousing fanfares and uplifting accompaniments, and the collection comes to a thrilling conclusion with ‘Hark! The herald angels sing’ in the unique version sung every Christmas in St Patrick’s to the tune of Handel’s’ See, the conqu’ring hero comes’ from ‘Judas Maccabeus’.

Built in honour of Ireland’s patron saint, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral stands adjacent to the famous well where tradition has it Saint Patrick baptized converts on his visit to Dublin. The present building dates from 1220, and became a cathedral in 1224.

Today St Patrick’s is the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland (a church of the Anglican communion) and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ireland.St Patrick’s has the only choir school in Ireland, which was founded in 1432. In 1742 the combined choirs of St Patrick’s and Christ Church Cathedrals gave the first performance of Handel’s Messiah.